Dexter’s Favorite Dog Product Discoveries of 2012

If my dog could give himself gifts, no doubt his bowl would be full of bones and biscuits and he’d roll in muddy piles of yuk and avoid a bath on all counts. However, he has been exposed to quite a few dog products items over the past year as a result of his duties as Fidose of Reality PR (Puppy Relations) Manager. He compiled his 10 favorite finds and after digging through piles and closely sniffing all the products that have crossed his man cave, here are Dexter’s Favorite Dog Product Discoveries of 2012.

Food grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Wanting a more natural option instead of applying harsh chemicals, this product has been a ray of light. Thanks to a tip from Carrie from the All Things Dog blog, I sprinkle this safe alternative to package chemicals on Dexter before trekking to the park, on walks or into woodsy areas. By the way, fleas can and do live indoors all winter long, so they do not take the season off! These fossilized remains of microscopic shells act as shards of glass to winged critters. I purchased a salt shaker from a local retailer and sprinkle this onto my hand and into his coat. I purchased Food Grade DE from Amazon.com. Bonus: Word has it that this is a good bedbug deterrent, so I like traveling with it, too. (be sure to get the food grade)

Musher’s Secret: My dog will not wear dog boots, so this is the next best, if not better, option. Musher’s Secret is a barrier, food-grade wax for dog paws/pads that acts as an invisible boot. Developed in Canada for sledding dogs, apply a thin coat on pads and between toes, weekly. It dries in seconds and does not stain, is nontoxic, non-allergenic and priced starting at $12, depending on size. Good on hot pavement, sand and sand burn, snow and ice, salt and chemicals.

Evorapet Probiotic Oral Care: As a dog mom who brushes her pooch’s teeth every day, this caught my eye. The ProBiora3 probiotics contained in EvoraPet are specifically formulated to address the oral care needs of pets. Simply sprinkle on pets’ food once daily to give your dog fresher breath and cleaner, whiter teeth. I discovered this product while walking the mighty floor show at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, in February. Dexter uses this daily in conjunction with teeth brushing at night courtesy of CET vanilla mint toothpaste.

West Paw Bumper Bed: Dexter digs this bed so much that he seeks it out when we travel and vacation, too! Not all beds are created equal, as I found out when this bumper bed graced our home. This bed actually nestles a dog and cradles him or her into comfort. Dexter rests his chin on the bumper, which is filled with thick denier 100% recycled IntelliLoft polyfill, making the bed a heaven of cushions that will not bunch or flatten from extreme use. Zippered opening and machine washable cover for easy maintenance.

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food: Dexter gets asked quite often what type of food he eats. He eats The Honest Kitchen Embark and we add in some Dr. Harvey’s veg-to-bowl veggies for good measure. Embark is made with cage-free, hormone-free turkey and like all of the Honest Kitchen diets, it’s 100% human-grade, made in the USA, and does not contain corn, soy, rice, beet pulp or wheat. It takes moments to prepare: Add warm water for a fresh, wholesome and human grade meal. Dexter licks his bowl clean. Available in a variety of formulas and for cats, too.

Annie’s Pooch Pops Muttkins: Every weekend, Dexter gets a new bone to work on. It keeps him busy, we have given these as gifts, and they are the real deal: A beef marrow bone. The outer portion houses a baked biscuit of peanut butter, eggs, wheat flour, butter and vanilla but I break that off before feeding to him to avoid extra calories or digestive upset with too much treat. However, the Muttkin bone has become a tradition in our household. Use caution, as with any treat, but Dexter would be this bone at number one on the list: He buries it, cries to it, gnaws on it, and carries it around like a cave dog. Available in a variety of sizes. We get the $10 version, which measures about 9 inches.

Nutriscan Dog Food Sensitivity Kit: You do this test at home (or with a veterinarian if you so desire) by simply obtaining a sample of your dog’s saliva, mailing it to the lab, and you get the most amazing results returned to you: foods to which your dog is allergic. No serum testing, no picking the dog via allergy testing, no discomfort for your dog. NutriScan tests for the twenty most commonly ingested foods by dogs to provide you with specific results. Most notably, you can have the results in approximately two weeks to help you put your dog on the right diet. Dog food allergies and sensitivities are no fun, and finally someone in the know has a test to help. Dexter’s reactive itching to certain foods has ceased because of this.

Canine Companion First Aid Kit:This paid for itself the first time we used it. Dexter stepped on a bee at the park this summer and we used the tweezers to pull the stinger out, then applied the triple antibiotic ointment to the wound. I am very grateful we had this easily transportable first aid kit handy and we now have one in our car and Dexter carries one in his Doodie Pack when we take long walks. Best $9.95 I spent. Add a Pet Clot “just in case” clotting agent to it for extra safety and precaution.

Kong GeniusToy stuffed with Stewart Pro Treat Freeze-Dried Liver Treats: Dexter loves smartie games: ones that keep him mentally stimulated and physically challenged a bit, too. I like toys that keep him busy while I work and write and aren’t going to be chewed to bits. Enter the Kong Genius toy. I have first-paw experience with Kong Genius toys and S-W-E-A-R by them. Dexter gets his favorite treats (Stewart Pro-Treat Freeze Dried Liver) broken into pieces inside them and he entertains himself for a half hour solid.

Pet JetSetter bag: The Pet JetSetter holds all of my dog’s necessities (and then some) at my fingertips. And it looks like a very high-end designer bag. Though Dex and I have been using this bag for years, it makes our yearly favorites list for its durability, function, fashionable look, and because I get stopped about it frequently. More details about the Pet JetSetter here.

We were not compensated to say any of the above and our opinions are that of our own.

I’ve been curious about Musher’s Secret since I first learned about it. The ice gets really bad around here, and every winter I end up having to do some major first aid on the boys’ paws. I think I’ll pick it up and try it now that I know Dexter recommends!

Wow! So many great products to choose from. My dogs Maya & Pierson are really racking up the gifts this year. I really like the idea of the food grade diatomaceous earth and the evorapet probiotic oral care but I think my dogs would like the kong genious and west paw bumper bed. They already have a first aid kit and pet travel accessories.

Thanks for the mention, Carol. My dogs are healthier living a greener lifestyle without chemicals. We’ve switched to organic pest control for our home and yard, and also use chemical-free cleaners. It’s just an earth-friendly lifestyle that’s good for us and our dogs too! Happy New Year ::)